Locking device



R. MADISON.

LOCKING DEViCE. APPLlCATlON FILED MR. 2. 1921.

.1,395,721 Patented Nov. 1,1921.

RANnoLrnM-Amson, or rnT'ERsBuRG, VIRGINIA.-

LOCKING DEVICE.

v Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Application filed March 2, 1921. Serial No. 449,019.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, RANDOLPH MADISON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Petersburg, in the county of Dinwiddie and State ofVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LockingDe vices, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in looking devices andhas relation more particularly to a device of this general characterespecially designed andadapted for use in connection with a wardrobetrunk, and itis an object of the invention to provide a novel andimproved locking device which. serves effectually to maintain thedrawers of a wardrobe trunk in closed posi-- tion toholdthej sameagainst undue vibration when the trunk is in transit and also to holdsaid drawers against opening movement when the lid or top of the trunkis open.

; The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several. parts of my improved lockingdevice whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set fort Thenovel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

7 In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a wardrobe trunk havingapplied thereto a locking device constructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation illustrating indetail the operative connection between adjacent locking strips, saidstrips being in looking position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line33 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the locking strips in openposition; and

Fig. 5 is a view in plan of a pair of coacting segmental gears.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, T denotes a wardrobe trunkof-a conventional type and which has slidably supported therein thedrawers D, said drawers moving outwardly ofthe trunk T when the lidor'cover L is in open position.

Hingedly connected with the longitudinal marginal portions of the trunkT at the open or top face thereof are the elongated strips 1, each ofsaid strips being ofa length substantially coextensive with the interiorlength of the trunk, so that, when the strips are intheir closed orinwardposition, they will overlie and contact with the drawers D to holdthe same against undue vibration and also against outward or openingmovement. 1 r

Also hingedly connected with the outer marginal portion of the trunk Tat one end thereof is the strip 2 which, when in its closed or innerposition, has contact with the adjacent drawer D to provide means tofurther hold said drawer against outward movement.

The strips 1 and 2 are held in applied position by the hinges 3 and thehinges at the adjacent ends of the strips 1 and 2 have their pintles 4extended. Secured to the extended portion of each of said pintles 4 isa'segmental gear 5 in mesh one with the other so that, upon movement ofa strip 1 or the strip 2, all of said strips 1 and 2 will move in unisonand in the same general direction.

In order that the strips 1 and 2, when in their inner or closedposition, may have proper coaction with the drawers D,'the adjacent endsof the strips 1 and 2 are beveled so that, when in their closed or innerpositions, the strips 1 will offer no obstruction to the strip 2 andvice versa.

Carried by one ofthe strips, and prefer- Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

ably by the strip 2, is any preferred type of lock mechanism, generallyindicated at 6 in Fig. 1, and which mechanism coacts in any desiredmanner with the trunk T to lock the strips 1 and 2 at their inner orclosed position, so that, when the cover or lid L is open, the strips 1and 2 serve to maintain the drawers D against opening movement byunauthorized persons and which is of particular advantage in hotels orthe like to reduce the possibility of petty theft.

By locking the strips 1 and 2 in their inner or closed position, thedrawers D are held against undue vibration when the trunk T is intransit and this in itself is of importance and advantage. 7

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that alocking device constructed in accordance with my invention isparticularly well adapted for use by reasonof the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will alsobe obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change andmodification without departing from the principles and spirit thereofand for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothe precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shownin carrying out my invention in practice 8X' c'ept' as hereinafterclaimed.

I'claim': I I 1. In combination with a container having a compartment, aplurality of drawers slidably mounted in the compartment, locking stripshi'ngedly connected along the sides and one end of the'compartment,'said strips being arranged to swing into and out of thepath of travel of the drawers, and operative connection between adjacentstrips whereby all of said strips have movement in unison and in thesame general direction.

23in combination with a container havpath of travel of nection betweenadjacent strips whereby all ing a compartment, a plurality of drawersslidably mounted in the compartment, looking strips hingedly connectedalong the sides and one end of 'tlie compartment, said strips beingarranged to swing into and out of the the drawers, operative conof saidstrips have movement in unison and in the same general direction, andmeans for locking said strips against swinging movement in a directionout of the path of travel of the drawers.

3. In combination with a-contain'er having a compartment, a plurality ofdrawers slidably' mountediin the compartment, looking strips hingedlyconnected along the sides and one end of the compartment, said stripsbeing arranged to swing into and out of the path of travel of thedrawers, operative connectionbetween adjacent strips whereby all ofsaidstrips have movement in unison and in the same general direction, andmean's'car ried by one of the strips for'locking said strips againstswinging movement in a direction out of the path of travel of thedrawers. I t v In testimony whereof I hereunto afli'x my signature. V I

1 RANDOLPH MADISON.

